Velocipede.



ZAOH'ARY T. CARROLL, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

VELOCIPEDE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented. Dec. 11, 1906.

A plication filed February 17, 1906. Serial I0. 301.629-

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ZACHARY TAYLOR CAR- ROLL, L citizen of the United States, and resident of St. Louis, Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Velocipedes, of which the following is s specification.

My invention is an improvement in velocipedes, and particularly in combined rockinghorses and velocipedes; end the invention has for an object to provide a novel construction whereby the figure of the horse may be caused to simulate a galloping action as the velocipede moves forward; end the invention consists in certain novel constructions and combinations of parts, as will be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is sectional side elevation of toy embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is detsil rear elevation of the frame and a part of the running-gear. Fig. 3 is s detail cross-section on about line 3 3 of Fig. 1; and Fig. 4 is detail side view of a portion of the figure of the horse, showing the fixed relation between the drive-shaft end the saddle.

As shown, my invention is embodied in a tricycle having front wheel .A and rear wheels B, the latter being fixed to the shaft O, which shaft is provided with a crank C and with sprocket-wheel O for purposes presently described. The shaft C is mounted in bearings D, in what for convenience of reference I call main freme D, which has an upwardly projecting portion D This upwardly-projecting portion is provided at its upper end with the longitudinally-extending side bsrs cl, which extend approximately parallel with each other, are spaced apart, receive between them the intermediate gearing between the drive-shaft and the drive-axle, and are provided at their opposite sides with the laterally-projecting pivotstuds I) for the figure-body. This construction is important, as it affords ample space between the side bars for the intermediate gearing and supports the pivot-studs at such distance apart as to afford a strong substantial pivotal support for the body, the arrangement being such as to obviate twisting strain on the pivot and to provide a maximum strength. These studs D project laterally from the opposite side portions d, and be tween the bars d I provide a sprocket-wheel D, which is connected by a sprocket-chain F with the sprocket-wheel O on the shaft C.

On the studs D is pivoted the body E of the horse. To the wheel D is connected a larger sprocket-wheel D which is driven in the manner presently described. The figure E of the horse has n seddle at E, is provided in sdvence thereof with an opening E through which the steering-shaft Gprojects, and the figure of the horse is pivoted on the studs D so it may be rocked as the velocipede proceeds, it being forced to rock by means of the pitmen H, connecting the crank C with the body E at e, as shown in Fig. 1. By this construction when the shaft O is turned its crank C will cause the figure E to rock on its pivots D and so simulate the action of gelloping es the velocipede moves forward.

It is important to maintain the fixed reletion between the saddle E and the drive shaft I, by which the rider gives motion to the velocipede, end. to this end I journal the drive-shaft I in the figure of the horse, prefersbly near the lower edge of the letter, so thet there will be no variation in dist ence between the saddle and the drive-shaft as the velocipede moves forward. I therefore ournsl the shaft I, which has the cranks I at its opposite ends, in the body and preferably in metal bearing-plates J, secured at the sides of the body, and provide the said she-ft within the body with a sprocket-wheel i, geared by the chain K with the sprocket-wheel D so that the rider mey transmit motion through. the shaft I to the sprocket-wheel O and its shaft O to propel the velocipede as the rider turns the shaft I.

It will be understood that the counterwheels D and D are concentric with the pivot of the figure-body E of the main frame of the velocipede, so that there will be no variation in distance between the centers of the wheels D and D and the shaft I and the chain K will remain at the desired tension.

An important feature of my invention, as before suggested, is the arrangement of the shaft I in fixed relation to the saddle E, so that the reach of the rider will not be disturbed at any time, this being effected by journeling the drive-shaft in the body to which the saddle is fixed so that the relation of the said parts remains constant.

It will be noticed that the slot E for the steering-shaft extends rearwerdly for a considerable distance and receives the upper portion of the main frame of the velocipede as well as the connection at e of the pitmztn II with the body, the slot being covered for a short distance in front and rear of the saddle E by a cloth or flexible cover, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4. This is a simple construc tion and facilitates the manufacture of the article at a minimum cost.

-It will be noticed that the steering-shaft extends upwardly through the longitudinallyslotted body, the slot of the latter permitting the rocking of the body along the rigid shaft and avoiding the necessity of any links a steering-wheel at its front end, drivewheels and an axle therefor at its rear end, said axle being provided with a crank and a sprocketwheel, the main frame having an upwardlyprojecting portion provided at its upper end with laterally-projecting pivot-studs and between said studs with sprocket-wheels concentric with the pivot-studs, and a body or figure slotted longitudinally receiving the upper portion of the main frame and having bearings for the lateral pivot-studs and above the same a saddle, and drive-shaft journaled in the figure-body and maintained in fixed relation with the saddle whereby the reach of the rider will not vary as the figure rocks on its pivots, said drive-shaft being provided with cranks, gearing between the said drive-shaft and the sprocket-wheels concentric with the pivot studs for the figurebody, and pitman connecting the crank of the axle with the figurebody whereby to rock the same on its pivots, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination in a velocipede of the main frame, the axle journaled thereto and having a crank, and drive-wheels on said axle, a figure-body having a saddle and pivoted to the main frame, gearing concentric with said pivot and connected with the axle to drive the same, and a drive-shaft journaled to the figure-body infixed relation to the saddle thereof and having cranks, gearing between said shaft and the counter-gearing connected with the axle, and a pitman connecting the axle-crank with the figure-body, substantially as set forth.

- 3. The combination of the main frame having a drive-axle, a figure-body pivoted to the main frame and having a saddle, a driveshaft journaled 'm the figure-body and maintaining a fixed relation to the saddle, means for rocking the body on its pivot by the operation of the velocipede, and connections between the drive-shaft and the drive-axle whereby the former will operate the latter, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination in a velocipede of the frame, the drive-axle, the upwardly-projecting steering-shaft, the figure-body pivoted to the main frame and slotted longitudinally for the play of said body along the steeringshaft as the body rocks, a drive-shaft journaled to he figure-body whereby its relation thereto is unchanging, means for rocking the figurebody by the operation of the velocipede, and intermediate gearing between the drive-axle and the drive-shaft, substantially as set forth.

5. In a device of the class described, the combination of the figurebody having a slot formed in its lower side and a main frame having its upper portion in said slot and having at said upper portion longitudinal parallel side bars spaced apart, pivotal connections between the said opposing side bars and the figure-body, gearing between said side bars,-

the drive-axle, means connecting the driveaxle with said gearing between the side bars and the drive-shaft journaled to the figurebody, and connected with the gearing between the side bars to operate the same, substantially as set forth.

6. The combination of the velocipedeframe and its driveaxle, a figure-body pivoted to the frame, means for rocking said body by the operation of the velocipede, a driveshaft journaled to the body whereby its rela tion thereto is constant, and intermediate gearing between said drive-shaft 'and the drive-axle of the velocipede, substantially as set forth.

7. The combination of a support, a figurebody'pivoted to oscillate on said support,

and means for oscillating the figure-body 1ncluding a drive device having a fixed relation to the body whereby its position with respect thereto will be constant while operating to oscillate the body, substantially as set forth.

8. The combination of the velocipedeframe and its drive-axle, a figure-body pivoted to said frame, means for oscillating the body by the operation of the velocipede, a drive device supported directly by the figurebody whereby its relation th ereto will be constant in theoperation of tne velocipede to rock or oscillate the figure-body, and intermediate connections between the said drive device and the drive-axle of the velocipede, substantially as set forth.

' ZACHARY T. CARROLL.

IIO 

